Arsenal appoint Edu as technical director

Arsenal have confirmed that former player Edu is to return to the club as technical director.

The 41-year-old, who won two Premier League titles and two FA Cups during a four-and-a-half-year spell with Arsenal, has been linked with a return to north London for some time.

Edu, who played under current Arsenal boss Unai Emery during a spell at Valencia, has served as general co-ordinator of the Brazil national team since 2016, and leaves his post after his country won the Copa America for the first time in 12 years on Sunday.

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Arsenal confirmed that he will travel to the USA with the squad on Thursday as their pre-season tour gets underway.

In a statement Arsenal said: “In his role as technical director, Edu will co-ordinate the work of our first-team coaching group, the academy and player scouting and recruitment in order to oversee the constant building up and efficient strengthening of our squad.”

Edu added: “Arsenal has always had a special place in my heart and I’m thrilled to be returning to this great club in this new role. We have a strong squad and some very talented young players with fantastic people at every level. I’m looking forward to helping make a difference.”

The Brazilian represented his country 22 times and was a member of Arsenal’s ‘Invincibles’ team in 2003-04.

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Head of football at the club, Raul Sanllehi, added: “We’re very excited that Edu is joining the team. He has great experience and technical football knowledge and most importantly is a true Arsenal man. He understands the club and what we stand for to our millions of fans around the world.